The Snooze Button

 

Walking through the hallways of a middle school, the principal noticed a new substitute teacher standing outside her classroom with her forehead against a locker. The newcomer was heard to mutter, “How did you get yourself into this?” Knowing she had been assigned to a difficult class the principal tried to offer moral support, “Are you okay?” he asked; “Can I help?” The substitute teacher lifted her head and replied, “I’ll be fine as soon as I get this kid out of his locker.”

It’s the time of the year that most kids and many teachers dread: Back to School! Soon the vacations, beaches, fishing trips, and picnics will be in the past. While we are tempted to let out a big groan, perhaps we should remind ourselves what a fantastic opportunity lies ahead of us. The Lord tells us that, “… we should let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven” (Mathew 5:16). That means every class meeting, every ball game, and every lunchtime is an opportunity to be a glowing example of Christianity - both student and teacher. After a summer of fun and adventure, it’s difficult to return to the books. As Christians, though, we can look forward to getting back into the public life that allows us to let out Christian lights shine. Be a light for Christ.

It’s also time to renew that ritual of getting out of bed earlier and getting off to school. I use my phone alarm to wake me in the morning and when the sounds it also displays a text giving me an option: “Tap To Snooze.” Tap and I’m good for another ten minutes of comfort and peace. Make it a habit and one finds themselves late for work or school. A person’s use of the snooze button is not “the end of the world” but it tends to start the day off on the wrong foot - raising one’s anxiety level with rushing and hurrying to get going.

[Hebrews 9:27] I want us to think very seriously about the snooze button of our soul – before it is “the end of the world.” Whether we want to admit it or not – our lives are terminal. Furthermore, our time on this earth is relatively short (James 4:14). Also, the end of the earth is definite (2 Peter 3:9-12); 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; Matthew 24:35-39).

Considering the latter facts, we can be certain there is a lot of uncertainty concerning the “when” of the end of our life. * We are not promised tomorrow. * Many people have died sooner than expected. * And the time of the Lord’s return will not be known until it occurs.

This should motivate us to want to be ready for the end - all the time. “For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). If at the end, we be found in continual state of sin, Jesus will utter those bone chilling words, “…I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23).

Jesus has sounded the alarm! He has called us all to His gospel to wake up, get up, and stay up. “Therefore, He says, ‘Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:14; Isaiah 26:19, 60:1). We “wake up” when we come to the knowledge of truth (1 Timothy 2:4; Romans 10:17). We “get up” when we humbly submit to the truth (Hebrews 11:6; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:10; Mark 16:16). And we “stay up” by “walking in the light (truth) as He is in the light (God’s truth)” (1 John 1:7). Sadly, too many are still hitting the snooze button of their soul. We live everyday thinking, “There’s always tomorrow.” When we breathe our last, we cannot “Tap To Snooze.” When Jesus returns, we cannot “Tap To Snooze.” The time to be ready is now. “Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. …let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love…” (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8). He’s coming! Don’t be snoozing.

The Devil Your Adversary

 

Flip Wilson, comedian and television personality of the 1960’s & 70’s was famous for his humorous quotes about life. “The cost of living is going up and the chance of living is going down.” “I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.” And of course, his most famous, “The devil made me do it!” Do we really know who the devil is?

Satan desires one thing, which is the spiritual demise of all humanity. He wants every soul to end up in Hell with him (Matthew 25:41). Satan accomplishes his mission by getting people to live their lives in sin. Satan “entered in” Judas and caused him to betray the Lord (John 13:27). Satan filled Ananias’ heart to lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). Satan deceived Eve to disobey the Lord (Genesis 3:1-6; 1 Timothy 2:14). Jesus told Peter, “…Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…” (Luke 22:31-32). The devil is always busy trying to devour people with sin (1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:8; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 2:11). So, when we sin, is the devil responsible for our transgressions because he caused us to do it?

The devil does tempt us to sin. He even tried to tempt Jesus to sin (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). However, if the devil is responsible for our sins, then why will we one day be accountable for them (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:11-12)? It is because the devil cannot “make” us do anything. He only plays a part in our sin by dangling the carrot, so to speak. James wrote, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death (James 1:14-15). The devil only tempts, and it is we who either resist or transgress. This is why God “…will render to each one according to his deeds…” (Romans 2:6-11). We have the ability through Christ (Philippians 4:13) and the responsibility as Christians to “…submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). After resisting, the devil leaves but only until another opportune time (Luke 4:13). Nevertheless, we have “endured” that temptation to sin and will be rewarded for our faithfulness (James 1:12). Furthermore, with every temptation we are given all the help necessary to withstand the devil, as God will not allow any temptation to come upon us beyond our individual power to resist, and also gives each and every one of us a faithful escape out of each temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

[Ephesians 2:2] Yes, the devil rules this world, and he came after Jesus again to tempt Him not to go to the cross (John 14:30). The ruler of darkness of this world is he that we fight our battles with all the day long. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). This active, living being, that is fallen of God, is a threat to us all for he is a liar. “…he was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). Not only that, but he is the enemy of God and man. Remember the parable of the tares of the field in Matthew 13? The devil is the one that sows the bad seed of Christ. We see how this enemy will be handled at harvest time in that the tares will be bundled up and burned in the fire.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Are you using sound, Biblical judgment and watching for an escape, so the devil’s temptations don’t lead you away from God?

Dandelions

 

The Dandelion. I feel sorry for this plant. We put forth a great effort to kill every one of them that we encounter. The reason we dislike them? Because they grow everywhere we don’t want them to grow. It really isn’t a bad plant. It isn’t poisonous. It is easy to grow. It has a beautiful yellow flower. If you mix up a tasty batter, dip the flower in it and deep fry it, you can eat it. The leaves are good for food. The seeds are good bird feed. Yellow finches enjoy eating them. But I know of no use for the root of the dandelion. But there isn’t much waste of the plant. So why do we not like it?

This past spring I noticed the usual purple wildflowers in my yard. There were also some blue bonnets, but not nearly as many because it was a dry winter and spring. Now that we have received some rain, I’ve noticed a few little white flowers popping up here and there. They’re short lived because we treat them the same as dandelions, generally mowing them down. We have decided grass is what we want in our yards. We fertilize our lawns to stimulate grass growth and poison to destroy the weeds. We have our ideas for a beautiful lawn! These ideas are neither right nor wrong. It’s my lawn – my rules.

[Acts 20:28] “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” The church belongs to Jesus. He bought it with His own blood. He can put in it what He wants. In fact, He decides who is in the church. “…And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b). The Lord adds to the church. The Lord has described to man who is saved or who can be in the church. The people who were saved in Acts chapter 2 (Peter’s preaching of sin and repentance) were those “…who gladly received his word (and) were baptized” (Acts 2:41). The Lord decided how men were to worship Him in the church. He has given us five avenues of worship to be used by the church: prayer, singing, teaching, partaking of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of His sacrifice for our sins, and giving as we have prospered. The church is people whom the Lord has added to the church. They are His. He bought them with His blood. He has given His church the avenues of worship which please Him. He has given us the Bible, God’s Word, to guide us in all good works. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Lord has told His church what they are to do in serving Him. Those works are: benevolence, evangelism, exhortation. We have a duty of faith to serve one another (James 2:14-17). And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

You own your lawn and have the right to plant grass, flowers, or whatever you choose in it. Jesus owns the church. He has the right to designate how people get into the church, and what people are to do, or not do, in the church. He has decided what the rules are that His church must follow. I have no right to come into your lawn and sow seeds that you would forbid me to sow. The Lord has the same right in the church. “And He put all things under His feet …to be head over the church …which is His body…” (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Are You An Heir Of Heaven?

In the 1500’s a man by the name of William Tyndale determined the common man in England should have the Bible in his own language. Tyndale set out, against much opposition, to accomplish this very difficult task. A scholar in both Greek and Hebrew, and able to speak in five other languages, he completed his translation of the New Testament into English in 1537. For this effort he was put to death in a most horrible fashion. That’s right! Killed for putting the Bible into the English language, offering God’s Word to the common man. Today the Bible adorns coffee tables, can be found in most every motel/hotel room, and is placed on the dash of cars, but is seldom read and its teachings hardly ever followed. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Yet most continue to walk in spiritual darkness. God sent His Son to bring His Word to light a dying world – another man died that we might be able to read and know that Word. Yet, how many truly care about that Book of books? That Book is the last will and testament of the Son of God. It should be of concern to each of us to find out if we are remembered in that will and what our inheritance would be. Are you an heir?

    An heir is “one who inherits or is entitled to inherit property” (Webster’s Seventh Collegiate Dictionary). Several things are involved in being an heir: 1) the benefactor, 2) the death of the benefactor, 3) the will, 4) the inheritance, 5) the terms of compliance to receive the inheritance, and 6) entitlement as an heir. What do we know about the last will and testament of our benefactor, the Lord Jesus Christ? We know that Christ’s will was not in force until He died. “For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives” (Hebrews 9:16-17). The New Testament (will) of Jesus Christ was activated at His death when He made sacrifice for us and nailed the Old Law to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). What is our inheritance? HEAVEN! ETERNAL LIFE! An eternal inheritance (Hebrews 9:15); and incorruptible inheritance (1 Peter 1:4); heirs of promise – heirs of the kingdom (Hebrews 6:17; James 2:5). To obtain this inheritance we must be “in” Christ. “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). And how do we get “into” Christ? “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27); “in Christ” makes us “heirs according to the promise” (v’s 28-29). “Born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5), i.e. baptized into Christ, we become children of God. As children of God, we become heirs of God! “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17). We cannot be delinquent children. We must comply with the terms of His will. We must be faithful. We must be “qualified” (Colossians 1:12). We must “receive forgiveness of sins” and be “sanctified by faith” to receive the inheritance (Acts 26:18). We must be “justified by His grace” to “become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). We must “serve the Lord Jesus” to “receive the reward of the inheritance” (Colossians 3:24). We cannot live in sin and expect to receive the inheritance (Ephesians 5:5). “…I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). It will be heartrending for one to discover they have been disinherited and rejected by God (Revelation 20:11-15). 

You Are A Strong Influence

 

Around the turn of the century in rural Texas, an old man crippled with arthritis was very faithful in his attendance at a local church. Twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday night a little girl watched from her bedroom window as the old man, with cane in hand, painfully and slowly made his way down the street to the church building on the corner. One Sunday morning, following an unusually strong overnight winter storm, the little girl ran to her window, looked out and exclaimed to herself, “Surely the old man won’t go to church this morning!” But there he was, right on schedule, plodding very cautiously through the ice and snow. The little girl could contain herself no longer. She had to visit the little church on the corner to see for herself what could possibly be there that would bring the old man out on such an inclement morning. The little girl was impressed with the services that morning and a short time later she became a Christian, as did her whole household.

The rest is history. After finishing high school, she enrolled in a Christian college and while there met a fine Christian young man whom she later married. To this union a son was born who was to become one of the finest gospel preachers that ever lived. During the time that he served the Lord, this man led literally thousands of people to Christ.

The old man went to his reward without realizing just what an impact he had made for the cause of Christ. Because of his godly influence many people will go to heaven to be with him. There can be no greater joy than to reach heaven and to hear some say, “I’m here because you had shown me the way.” It is a fact that we are capable of showing others the way. This can be achieved because of the powerful influence we all have in the ability to openly exert our love and devotion to the Creator while we live on this earth.

[Titus 2:7-8] “…in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” I would pose a question to all of us who are Christians: “Have you ever stopped to consider the influence we may have on those around us?” It has been said many times that if heaven becomes your home you will take others with you because of the influence you have exerted while living here on earth. I believe the opposite of this will also be true. If you are lost you will take those with you into eternal punishment who have followed your earthly example. We are being observed by others many times when we least expect it or are unaware of the presence of others.

The apostle Paul was addressing the Philippians concerning their influence, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Philippians 2:14-15). The child of God is to be innocent, even though the world around us is crooked and perverse. By living this way our influence will be as a light. The apostle Paul instructed Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). The Christian is to be an example of what a believer truly is. The power of the Christian influence is something that one should never take for granted. Who is it that we are influencing with our Christ-like example? Are we influencing others toward salvation and eternal life in heaven? Or is our lackadaisical attitude of love and devotion toward Christ leading others astray, influencing them toward eternal hell and damnation. This is a question we “Christians” must consider in complete earnestness and honestness.